The Dutch startup aims to solve a persistent issue in construction: the lack of traceability in building materials, which makes reuse difficult when structures undergo demolition or renovation.
Maeconomy, a Dutch startup, has secured €1.5 million to develop a platform that transforms building materials into traceable, monetizable circular assets. The Netherlands leads Europe in circular construction innovation, and Maeconomy addresses a significant structural issue.
Construction and demolition waste is the largest single waste stream in the EU by weight. However, most materials removed from buildings are downcycled rather than reused due to the lack of reliable records of their origin or condition.
Maeconomy is creating a digital identity system for each material component in a building, known in the industry as a material passport.
This concept has existed for years; Dutch companies like Madaster have created registry platforms for material passports, tested in Amsterdam offices and London commercial projects.
What sets Maeconomy apart is its platform’s capability to make materials “auditable” and “monetizable.” It integrates financial aspects of material value into asset records, allowing building owners to consider their structures as material banks with tradeable future value.
The Dutch construction sector uses 50% of the Netherlands’ raw materials, with a government goal to halve new raw material use by 2030.
European regulations are tightening, with new EU buildings subject to circular design requirements, and material passports are becoming mandatory in some areas.
Maeconomy’s platform fills a gap, aligning the goals of circular construction policies with the commercial infrastructure necessary for large-scale implementation.